Bag-frame registering connection



May 5,1925. 1 1,536,596

' W. A. LOTZ v B AG FRAME REGISTERING CONNB OTION Filed June '7; 1924 INVENTOR Patented May 5, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. LOTZ, OF NEWARK, NEW J ERSEY',

ASSIGNO'R TO TI-IET. & L. 00., ING., OF

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEYQ BAG-FRAME REGISTERING CONNECTION.

Application filed June 7, 1924. Serial No. 718,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. Loan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bag-Frame Registering Connections, of which the following is a specification,

This invention relates to improvements in bag frame registering connections, particularly in the protector plates for the turnhandles used to close the ends of travelling bags and it is the principal object of the invention to provide such connections ensuring perfect rigidity and positively preventing bending or breaking of the turnhandle under the heaviest strains to which it may be subjected,

Another purpose of the invention is to produce a bag frame registering connection combining simplicity of construction and assemblage of parts with extreme durability and security.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a protecting casing having sharply defined outer lines of contour and carrying an inner smooth spring plate while the casing walls are offset to provide a rigid sup port for the shaft of the turn-handle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character in which the horizontal member of the keeper constitutes an extremely firm and secure support for the operating mechanism and the casing to positively prevent a disengagement of the bag frame members even when they are subjected to extremely heavy strains.

These various and important objects are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in detail and shown in the drawing, and then specifically claimed in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this disclosure Figure l is a perspective view showing fragments of a conventional type of bag and an embodiment of the invention. applied thereto.

. Figure 2 ,is a longitudinal sectional view through the protector plate, the section being taken on line 2-2 of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View through the protector plate and co-operating parts, as well as the bag frames, the section being tal'ren on line 38 of Figure 2.

Figure 4- is a bottom plan view of the device constructed according to my invention.

The numerals 10 and 11 designate the re spective side walls of the bag, the material of which is stitched to coverings 12 and 13 completely enveloping the angular frame members 14 and 15 as is usual andwell known in the manufacture of travelling b-ags,'etc.

A hollow, oblong casing. 16 of-a shap best illustrated in Figure 1, the bevelled lateral branches 17 and 18 of whichmeet the upper outer ends of the central or intermediate part f the casing at sharply defined angles, as at 19 and 20 respectively, has at one end a rectangular downwardly directed flange 21 adapted to grip over the end of one of the bag frames and to tightly engage the same. Prongs 22 and 23 extend downwardly from the lower face of the casing to pass through the horizontal part of the frame member .15 and to be bent thereunder for rigidly securing the casing to the frame.

The interior wall of the casing has shoulders formed therewith to present rest-v ing places or supports for the ends of a fiat spring plate 24, held againstthese shoulders by means of the smaller prongs 25 formed integrally with the casing and adapted to be bentlat erally over to securely engage and hold the spring plate at each of its four corners in the manner illustrated in Figure 4.

Intermediate the lower edges of the side walls of the casing and the top of the bag frame 1.5 is interposed a base plate 26, and formed on the front edge of the plate, below a recess 27 is an extension 28 bent to tightly engage over the edge of the bag frame 15, its re-entrantly turned portion being folded firmly against the underside of the frame.

Firmly secured to the other member 14 of the bag frame by rivets, bent over prongs,

or other fastening means, is the vertical element of a protector plate or keeper 29, the upper horizontal member 30 of which passes through the recess 27 into the casing to offer a firm support if pressure is exerted on top of the casing or bag frame. At the central upper part of the recess 27 and also in the opposite Wall are narrow slots curved on the arc of a circle to receive therein the rounded parts of a shaft or bar 31 provided with beaded flanges 32 and 33 engaging the inner side walls of the casing and limiting the lateral movements of the bar 31.

Intermediate the beaded flanges the bar 31 is of triangular cross section, as indicated at 34;, one of the three flat faces thus formed being in constant engagement with the spring plate 24:, not only preventing it from rattling but restraining the bar from displacement axially While the sharp edges of the triangle tend, under pressure of the spring, to complete any partial rotary motion transmitted to it.

Integral with the outer ends of bar 31 are turn-handles or wings 35 and 36 adapted to operate the bar 31 and snugly clamp the outer side faces of the frame member 15 and of the keeper plate 29 when both frame members 14 and 15 are closed as in locking the bag.

It will be evident from the description and drawing that the yield-able engagement of the triangular shaped part 34 of the bar 31 with the spring plate as, will produce an extremely firm and secure closure, while the horizontal member 30' of the protector plate or keeper will present a firm support for the casing and the locking structure, preventing bursting of the bag and disruption by an undue heavy pressure exerted upon the upper part of the same, as by a knee or Weight of other heavy baggage or articles placed on top of the bag.

It is also to be noted that the use of screws, rivets and all loose pieces is avoided, the casing and keeper being self-securing and the turn-handle clamping member with its spring are held in positive security by members integral with the casing, no machine work, other than surface finishing, being re quired.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that minor changes may be made in its construction, without the exercise of invention or conflicting with the scope of the claims hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A bag frame registering connection comprising a hollow easing fixedly engaged on one member of the bag frame, and hav ing recesses in its side walls, a seat formed in said casing, a fiat spring plate seated thereon, means for securely holding said plate in place, a turn-handle shaft journaled in said recesses, beaded flanges on said shaft for limiting its lateral movements, said shaft having a triangular cross-section between said beaded flanges, the sharp edges of the triangular section engaging said plate for depressing the same upon the rotation of said shaft by its handles, and means secured to the other member of the bag frame constituting a firm support to prevent disruption under a heavy load pressing on the connection.

2. In a bag frame registering connection,

the combination of a recessed casing attached to one of the bag frame members with a keeper attached to the other of said bag frame members, a horizontal member on said keeper adapted to engage in the recess of said casing, the recess having an upper extension, a turn-handle-shaft jour nalled in said upper extension, a spring plate within said casing adapted to be engaged and depressed by a flattened part of said shaft, and beads on said shaft for limiting its displacement in lateral direction, said horizontal keeper member firmly supporting said registering connection to prevent disruption under pressure. I 3. In a bag frame of the class described the combination with a hollow recessed casing attached to one member of the bag frame, of a keeper attached to the other bag frame member, a horizontal arm on said keeper adapted to enter the recess in said *asing, a seat formed in said casing, prongs formed near said seat, a smooth spring plate seated on said seat to be held thereon by the prongs bent down to engage a transverse shaft journalled in the recess of said casing, beaded flanges on said shaft for limiting its displacement in lateral directions, a central part on said shaft being of triangular crosssection to engage with its sharp edges said spring plate, a base plate, an extension on said base plate turned over to engage the upper and lower faces of one of the frame members on which the horizontal arm of said keeper rests, and a pair of handles formed with said shaft to engage the outer faces of said keeper and one of the frame members to closely hold both together and presenting a support for the connection to prevent disruption under a heavy load and pressure.

4. A bag frame clamp comprising a casing having a right angle projection at one end extending from its level lower surface, said casing containing an elongated chamber having recessed side walls, seats at the ends of the chamber, a flat spring disposed on said seats, prongs extending above said seats bent over said spring to hold it at each corner, other prongs extending from the casing at the ends of the chambers to engage a bag frame, clamp arms engageable with the exterior of the bag frame When closed clamping them in intimate contact, a bar integrally connecting said arms, said bar being journalled in the recesses of the chamber Walls, below said spring, means 011 said rod to prevent displacement thereof, and flat camlike surfaces on said rod engaging said spring whereby said arms are yieldably held 'in adjusted position.

This specification signed and witnessed this sixth day of June, 1924.

ILLIAM A. LOTZ. WVitnesses FREDK. G. Frscrrnn, HARRY SOMMERS. 

